Bring Your Child Figures to Life
A live workshop with illustrator Patrice Barton
Part of the Drawing Children for Children's Book Illustrations series
Workshop Series
Patrice Barton has been illustrating professionally since graduating with a BFA from the University of Texas at Austin. Some of her recent picture books are The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig and I Pledge Allegiance, by Pat Mora and Libby Martinez, both published by Knopf Books for Young Readers and The Year of the Baby by Andrea Cheng, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
January's workshop is the third live workshop in the series. Registration gives you access to the replays of two previous workshops with illustrators Cindy Wider and Shirley Ng-Benitez, and three remaining workshops with illustrators Tracy Nishimura Bishop
(February 28), children's book agent Christy Tugeau Ewers (March 22) and illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal (April 25.)
When you register for Patty's session, you'll receive details on where and how to upload your sketches and participate in Patty's and the remaining live classes.
See more Patrice Barton books.
As Patty explains in the video, your assignment for Jan. 30 is to sketch one or more characters focusing on gesture to tell a story.
In her class, Patty will pick 10 pieces from the group to speak to while she shares her secrets about drawing and painting children for the books she's illustrated for the past 15 years.
You can download and save the PDF with her class assignment here.
And help you to...
Get a fresh perspective
Our guest critiquers – illustrators, author-illustrators, children’s literary agents, art directors, sometimes an editor – examine your artwork in a spirit of teaching and mentoring.
Think like a pro
Watch up close and personal how full-time creatives evaluate and troubleshoot their own and others’ pieces.
Prepare for...
That upcoming SCBWI conference, promotional mailing, portfolio prep, online gallery posting, or sit-down with a client.
And nudge you to...
Sharpen your powers of discernment
Reinforce bedrock principles of draftsmanship, design and communication. (Funny how critiques bring you back to those.)
Meet your tribe
Expert practitioners and your colleagues who share their What I Wish I Knew Then stories and become your contacts in ‘the biz.’ (It’s called networking.)
Get better at... getting better
Critiques with practice dramatically speed your progress as you learn to wisely navigate the hierarchy of feedback – what’s valid for you now vs. what can be set aside.



A jolt of art school in the comfort and convenience of home!
Secure your spot at the table with these fine artist-teachers while they're available to you in this extremely affordable workshop series.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee!
Six sessions. Six months. If you find your first experience of a session not helpful or just not your cup of tea, let me know. I’ll refund you same day, no questions asked, no worries, and we’re still friends. – Mark Mitchell